i5-540UM vs i7-5550U

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-5550U and Core i5-540UM processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	2003	2764
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i7	Intel Core i5
Power efficiency	11.39	3.30
Architecture codename	Broadwell-U (2015)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
Release date	1 March 2015 (9 years ago)	24 May 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$426	$250

Detailed specifications

Core i7-5550U and Core i5-540UM basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	2 (Dual-core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	4	4
Base clock speed	2 GHz	1.2 GHz
Boost clock speed	3 GHz	2 GHz
Bus type	no data	DMI 1.0
Bus rate	5 GT/s	1 × 2.5 GT/s
Multiplier	no data	9
L1 cache	64K (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	256K (per core)	512 KB
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	3 MB
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Die size	133 mm2	81+114 mm2
Maximum core temperature	105 °C	105 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	105 °C	no data
Number of transistors	1900 Million	382+177 Million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-5550U and Core i5-540UM compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1 (Uniprocessor)
Socket	FCBGA1168	BGA1288
Power consumption (TDP)	15 Watt	18 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-5550U and Core i5-540UM. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2
AES-NI	+	+
FMA	-	+
AVX	+	-
vPro	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	+
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	+	+
Smart Response	+	no data
PAE	no data	36 Bit
FDI	+	+
Fast Memory Access	+	+

Security technologies

Core i7-5550U and Core i5-540UM technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	no data
Identity Protection	+	-
OS Guard	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-5550U and Core i5-540UM are enumerated here.

AMD-V	+	-
VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-5550U and Core i5-540UM. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3
Maximum memory size	16 GB	8 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	12.799 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel HD Graphics 6000	Intel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® Processors
Max video memory	16 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	-
Clear Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1 GHz	500 MHz
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-5550U and Core i5-540UM integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	2
eDP	+	no data
DisplayPort	+	-
HDMI	+	-

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-5550U and Core i5-540UM integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	2560x1600@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	3840x2160@60Hz	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-5550U and Core i5-540UM integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	11.2/12	no data
OpenGL	4.3	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-5550U and Core i5-540UM.

PCIe version	2.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	12	16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	1.84	0.64
Recency	1 March 2015	24 May 2010
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	15 Watt	18 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-5550U and Core i5-540UM, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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